Chuck

Do you remember the good times that were had when Armand Assante was first on "Chuck?" Yeah, that angel of death episode was truly excellent, as was the heavy reliance on Awesome in that episode. If you were to make a list of the awesome things on "Chuck," Awesome would be on it because he's awesome (and Awesome). We don't know that he's going to figure so heavily into this return of Goya episode, but he might, and even if he doesn't, it's still worth tuning in to see Assante. Oh, never mind, of course Awesome is going to be a big part of this episode, he has to be, we just know it (isn't he Awesome?).

Past Events

Hi, our name is Calendar Guy, and here's a few things you ought to know about us (or maybe you just forgot). We watch "Chuck." We won't say we watch it religiously, but we think we've seen just about every episode. We have bought a subway sandwich or two to support the series, and we're going to be sad when the show goes away. We absolutely count ourselves lucky that the we got five seasons out of this little spy comedy which has never garnered stellar ratings, but we're still going to miss the show once tonight's double-episode series finale is through.

As "Chuck" has done for the past several seasons, the show is putting on some pretty good guest stars this year. We have highlighted a few such episodes already this season and tonight we're going to do so again. Rebecca Romijn is going to be on the series tonight as a 'ruthless spy.' So, in other words, she's going to be playing the exact sort of enemy that several other guest stars have played in the past. Of course, the brilliance of the series doesn't necessarily lie in the enemies, but the group of friends. We would call them the SuperFriends, but kind of feel like that name is probably already taken.

In season three, Zachary Levi directed one episode of "Chuck." In season four, Zachary Levi directed one episode of "Chuck." In season five... well, Zachary Levi will direct at least one episode of Chuck, and that one we can guarantee is airing tonight. Now, while that's enough of a reason to watch, that's not all that's going on tonight. Carrie-Anne Moss is returning this week, and both Beau Garrett and Danny Pudi will be on as well which kind of means that we're getting a special director and some pretty special guest stars all in one awesome "Chuck" package.

We try to be happy about "Chuck" getting to air for five seasons despite its low ratings. We try to be happy that NBC has allowed (or been forced to allow) the show to continue for this long. Yet, despite our best attempts, we are sad, we are sad that the series is ending this year, we are sad that after this year there will be no new tales of the Buy More nor Carmichael Industries. We will be sucking in all the goodness that is "Chuck" as long as we possibly can, and suggest you do as well. And, that's even more true when you get rockingly good guest stars, like we have tonight.

We don't want to engage in any hand-wringing about this being the last season of "Chuck" (that is not our job here on the calendar). We simply want to celebrate the fact that this little series with such a solid fanbase managed to get five seasons despite the fact that, as good as it is, it has never garnered massive ratings. We may shed a tear or two about it all ending this season, but we're certainly going to celebrate all the wonderfulness "Chuck" has provided to us through the years. We are going to miss our favorite nerd herder once he goes the way of the Nintendo 64.

Chuck always seems to have just a plethora of family issues to deal with, and tonight's season finale will be no different. Does Chuck want to get married to Sarah? Obviously he does (seriously, wouldn't you?). There is, however, that pesky matter of the Volkoffs that is going to have to be taken care of tonight. If he manages to deal with them for good we are, quite honestly, going to miss them down the line. But, maybe his life will even out after they're gone... or not.

As those of us who watch "Chuck" are well aware, Sarah doesn't really have the greatest relationship with her family. It is actually because of that -- and only because of that -- that we often dream of comforting her, holding her tight, and making her feel as though... sorry, off track there. Tonight, Gary Cole will be on "Chuck," portraying Sarah's conman father. We kind of wonder if that in and of itself is a con and he's just pretending to be her father in order to get close to her. We could understand that, although it would be disappointing (that we didn't think of it first).

We love "Chuck." We love almost everything about "Chuck." We love the way that they've used James Bond this year and the way that they've used Sarah Connor. Tonight, we fully expect to love the way they use Ritchie Valens as well. Okay, that's not the greatest comparison ever as obviously Sarah Connor and James Bond are real people and Ritchie Valens is a superhero. We don't think Bond and Connor are going to be on this week, but do expect some song and dance from Valens.

Man, we have waited and waited for this night. It feels like forever since the last new episode of "Chuck" aired. We have missed our favorite nerd herder something awful, but not quite as much as we've missed Sarah. Not to put too fine a point on it, but we're more in love with that woman than Chuck ever has been, especially when she whips out that Aussie accent that Yvonne Strahovski has in real life. We also like the other Sarah, Lancaster, the one who plays Ellie, but it's with Sarah Walker that our heart truly lies.

You know what constantly impresses us about "Chuck?" Everything. That's right, we love the show as whole, but that wasn't quite what were going for. No, we actually wanted to suggest that we are constantly impressed by the quantity and quality of the guest stars the series gets and by how well they mold the characters to the stars they have playing them. For instance, take Summer Glau being on tonight. Is there any doubt that the folks at the Buy More will reference how attractive she is on more than one occasion? Talk about fitting a character to an actress.

It feels like every episode of "Chuck" this season has featured some sort of guest star, doesn't it? Well, that trend continues tonight. Not only will both Linda Hamilton and Morgan Fairchild be back, but Robert Englund will be on the show this week too. That's right, it's a Halloween episode. We don't know that it being Halloween has anything to do with Chuck's mission this week, but it definitely is a themed episode. So, let's see, you've got three great guest stars, a Halloween theme, and the general awesomeness that is "Chuck," what more do you need to convince you to watch?

Is Karolina Kurkova going to be on tonight? Yes. Is Isiah Mustafa going to be on tonight? Yes. Should you know the former Victoria's Secret model and the Old Spice man by name? Yes. We understand if you don't, but you probably should. Lou Ferrigno you will unquestionably recognize by name, and he's on tonight too. That makes this a pretty excellent guest star-laden second episode of "Chuck" this season and if that doesn't make you want to watch this show you probably ought to do so based solely on the writing, humor, and regular cast of the series anyway.

There are certain moments in life which seem all too perfect, certain moments in life that we live for. The season premiere of "Chuck" may just be one of those moments. It's a show we love, it's a show you love, and it's a show which has, magically, returned for a new season. Are we excited? Oh, we are excited. Chuck's mom will be there this season, a Time Lord/007 will be there this season, there is just so much goodness to go around. Plus, he's the Intersect and he knows kung fu. You're just as excited as we are, we can tell.

There has been a whole lot going on with our Human Intersect this season. At some point we lost count of how many times he had flashed and skills he had momentarily learned, but that doesn't mean that we ever stopped caring. Tonight, the season will close out in much the same way that it began - with a double dose of awesome (but not necessarily Awesome). That's right, "Chuck" is getting a two hour finale. Happy days are here again (and yet tomorrow, when we're faced with no new "Chuck" episodes in the coming weeks, those happy days will be gone).

As if you ever really needed another reason to watch "Chuck" - you know, something beyond the general coolness of the series - Fred Willard and Swoosie Kurtz are both going to be on the show tonight. In truth, they are not just both guest starring, they are guest starring as a married couple - the married couple Chuck and Sarah worry that they could turn into. Personally, we see nothing wrong with turning into Willard or Kurtz, but apparently their characters leave something to be desired.

Just because the format for the episode's title hasn't changed this week doesn't mean that the episode itself has to be all about Chuck going up against something (in this case, a Tic Tac). Robert Patrick will be guest starring on the show tonight as James Keller, Casey's old commanding officer. Because it's Patrick playing Keller we can pretty much safely assume that Keller is one bad dude. We don't even need the episode description - which talks about Casey getting tossed into jail for treason because of Keller - to know that Keller probably isn't going to be a good guy.

You are is a wily one, Chuck Bartowski. You thought you could fool us all, debuting on a Sunday night and then quickly flipping over to Monday the next night to continue your third season. You thought we couldn't follow your feint. Oh no, Chuck, we've got your number (and would kill to get Sarah's), there's no escaping our clutches now. You may be the Intersect, but we can intercept your Intersect any time we like. To put it another way, you can run, and you can (it seems) use Kung Fu, but you can't hide.

When we last left Chuck Bartowski his Intersect of a brain had been upgraded. Everyone's favorite Nerd Herd spy has gotten himself somewhat enhanced and as the new season premieres we're sure to find Chuck learning all about his new powers (and potential limitations). After this premiere, the series will be moving to its regularly scheduled time of Mondays at 9pm, and that means that we're actually going to get three full hours of Chuck-goodness this week.

If it's Monday, it has to be "Chuck." And if it's "Chuck," the big question has to be who this week's quirky guest stars are going to be.

So? Who you got, "Chuck"?

Well, in "Chuck versus the Suburbs," Chuck and Sarah have to go undercover as a happily married couple in suburbia. Among the wacky suburban folks they meet are Andy Richter as a stationary salesman and Jenny McCarthy as the woman across the street with the hots for Chuck.